Must a Lawyer Deposit an Up-Front Fixed Fee into Trust?
No, under Louisiana Rule of Professional Conduct 1.5(f)(2), a lawyer earns a fixed fee when the lawyer agrees to handle the client’s matter through completion. As a result, the rule …
Lawyer DWIs
Police arrest hundreds of drivers every week for driving while intoxicated. Unfortunately, lawyers are occasionally among these arrestees. These lawyers often call me with lots of questions—usually on Monday mornings. …
May a Louisiana Lawyer Assist in Distribution of Marijuana?
Probably not, but the answer is uncertain. More than thirty-three jurisdictions in the United States permit some type of marijuana sale and use. See Map of Marijuana Legality by State (as of June …
Tips for Sharing Office Space with Other Lawyers
Many lawyers share office space with other lawyers. Sharing office space has many benefits. These benefits include lower costs, networking opportunities, and unique educational opportunities. Sharing office space, however, can …
New Ethics Opinion Permits Payments to Fact Witnesses
On April 15, 2021, the Maine Professional Ethics Committee issued an advisory opinion on whether a lawyer may pay “a non-expert witness for time spent testifying at a deposition or …
The Ethical Pitfalls of Virtual Eavesdropping
The COVID-19 pandemic presented a variety of challenges for practicing lawyers throughout the country. Among these challenges are the professional and ethical implications involved in participating in legal proceedings and …
May a Lawyer Use a Competitor’s Name as a Keyword in Internet Advertising?
Yes, a lawyer may use a keyword that includes the name of a competing lawyer–if the use of the keyword does not result in a false, misleading, or deceptive advertising practice. …
May a Lawyer Accept Compensation from a Service Provider for a Client Referral?
Probably yes, but only if the referral agreement will not affect the lawyer’s representation and the lawyer obtains the client’s informed consent, confirmed in writing. See Rule 1.7(a). Under Louisiana …
Must Louisiana Lawyers Have or Report Malpractice Coverage?
On October 16, 2020, the Supreme Court of West Virginia suspended a lawyer for failing to report to the state bar whether he was covered by at least $100,000 in …
What Are The Differences Between the ABA Model Rules and the Louisiana Rules?
In this 45-minute video, Professor Dane S. Ciolino of the Loyola University New Orleans College of Law and the Louisiana Legal Ethics site discusses the principal differences between the ABA …